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A popular ski resort town in Japan Fines are set to be introduced for those involved in disruptive behaviour, as increasing numbers of tourists clash with the local population.
The village of Hakuba in northwestern Nagano Prefecture says the new restrictions will go into effect July 1, 2026, and will include rules against graffiti and loud noises at night.
While Hakuba issued an edict regarding “village manners” in 2015, it only prohibited disruptive behavior without making it a punishable offense.
The amended rules identify eight specific categories of violations, which would attract fines of up to ¥50,000 (£237) if they refuse an official order to stop.
The restrictions ban activities including creating graffiti or placing stickers on public or private property, shouting after 10 pm, use of loud music or sound equipment, launching fireworks at night, smoking while walking, among others.
The village’s General Affairs Division said the rules were modified to “protect the village’s beautiful landscape and comfortable living environment.”
The popular winter destination has become a global hotspot for “powder hunters”, attracting skiers and snowboarders from around the world.
Approximately 2.71 million tourists visited Hakuba in 2024, a dramatic increase from 2023, when approximately 330,000 visited.
The surge is an extreme example of a broader tourism boom, particularly after the pandemic, driven by a weak yen and rising international demand for Japan’s ski resorts.
Local residents have consistently raised complaints about bad behavior of tourists and urged the authorities to take action.
“I would like to help create a place where both residents and visitors can spend their time comfortably,” Hakuba Mayor Toshiro Maruyama told reporters after a village council meeting.
The new rules mean Hakuba joins about 20 municipalities across Japan that have imposed similar rules, including the cities of Kyoto, Kamakura and Fukuoka.
The moves come amid growing concern over overtourism in Japan, as resort towns and historic cities struggle to manage the behavior of rapidly increasing numbers of foreign tourists.
Japan is expected to record 36.9 million international visitors in 2024, an increase of 47.1 percent from the previous year, surpassing the pre-pandemic record of 31.9 million set in 2019.
Japanese media have highlighted several incidents that have sparked public outrage, including the arrest of an American tourist for scratching graffiti on a wooden gate at Tokyo’s historic Meiji Jingu shrine and the arrest of a Chilean influencer who filmed himself doing pull-ups at the sacred torii gate at a Shinto shrine. In another case, a foreign visitor was caught on video kicking a deer in the ancient capital of Nara.